November 10, 2012

That stood out to me this morning as I'm trying to understand the resignation of David Petraeus, who — as discuss in an earlier post — "presided over a moderation of the CIA's controversial drone program to take into greater account diplomatic sensitivities, a shift that sometimes put him at odds with the head of the agency's Counterterrorism Center."

"The Republican party has not been an effective restraining force on government excesses over the last four years.

"There is no reason to believe that will change - in fact, the Republicans will push the administration into ever greater excesses."

You mean to tell me the corrupt communists who run the democrat party are all-powerful? Rejoice, voters. We don't have power and corruption running DC, we have out of control un-stoppable power and corruption running DC.

So maybe the Petraeus thing is not about not rescuing the four dead, as much as botched intel/security that lead to the mission's (consulate's) compromise. It has been said that the mission was a CIA operation, possibly distributing Kadafi's old weapons to Syria.

it is the brand, the persona that the media mfuxxers have created since day one. Then again you knew that already. People who don't pay attention think anything else is conspiracy and tin foil and Obama people are banking on that. It is like robbing in daylight right before your eyes. As Palladian said on the other thread, he sounds more like 'Roger'.

The administration comes up with the story that the attacks in Bengazi were caused by a spontaneous mob response to some video no one every heard of.

At about the same time, the CIA section chief on the ground in Bengazi undercuts the administration's story and reports that the attack was orchestrated, planned and well-organized--no mention of a video. This report is the most persuasive and best evidence as to what was going on there.

Some time later (three or four days later?), Petraeus, ignoring the on the scene report of his section chief, testified before congress backing up the video story 100%.

This is where blackmail becomes a plausible explanation for Petraeus'testimony. Why would he ignore the best evidence available(eye witness evidence by a credible source no less)and adopt the administration's bizarre and laughable explanation for the attack?

The administration comes up with the story that the attacks in Bengazi were caused by a spontaneous mob response to some video no one every heard of.

At about the same time, the CIA section chief on the ground in Bengazi undercuts the administration's story and reports that the attack was orchestrated, planned and well-organized--no mention of a video. This report is the most persuasive and best evidence as to what was going on there.

Some time later (three or four days later?), Petraeus, ignoring the on the scene report of his section chief, testified before congress backing up the video story 100%.

This is where blackmail becomes a plausible explanation for Petraeus'testimony. Why would he ignore the best evidence available(eye witness evidence by a credible source no less)and adopt the administration's bizarre and laughable explanation for the attack?

pm317 about sums t up. "Manufactured" IS the key word. Even Obama's own WH confidants have on-the-record but not-for attribution have admitted he is a cold fish who doesn't really like people. But even more than that, he is a prick of an obnoxious ass-hole. Only a total prick would publically give the finger (twice) to a political opponent. Wores, however, is the fact that he was secure in the knowledge that he could get away with it because he was the Magic Negro that all too many had too much personal faith and political capital invested in. And let me defend edutcher about Hitler--who was unfailingly polite, made great dinner-table/cock-tail party small talk, loved dogs and was indeed widely lionized/defended for those very traits pre-war by not only Germans but most of the West's journalists. The parallels with Obama are hard to miss. All one has to do is look at old news-reels of adoring crowds of fawning star-struck women pressing bougues of roses upon him in droves at public gatherings to understand the effect charismatic, narcissistic power has on women. Both Google AND You Tube have LOTS of examples of women declaring their desire to have sex with Obama. Need I say more? And all of this is supposed to validate/justify him as the "Leader of the Free World?" He's such a "great/nice guy?" Going Godwin? Comparing Obama to Hitler insofar as "nice guy" manufactured reputations were used to advance their cause? If the shoe fits..

The clear implication of this post is that some sort of malicious act by President Obama personally is behind the Petraeus resignation. The evidence for that is precisely zero. It is, in fact, an irresponsible and unhinged accusation.

To be clear, it is legitimate to have questions about the relationship between Petraeus's resignation and Benghazi, or the drone program. What is irresponsible is to attribute it to a malicious act by President Obama with zero evidence.

The clear implication of this post is that some sort of malicious act by President Obama personally is behind the Petraeus resignation. The evidence for that is precisely zero. It is, in fact, an irresponsible and unhinged accusation.

To be clear, it is legitimate to have questions about the relationship between Petraeus's resignation and Benghazi, or the drone program. What is irresponsible is to attribute it to a malicious act by President Obama with zero evidence.

This is nonsense driven by an obsessive need to defend Obama. First, no conclusions were drawn. Second, if you agree more information is necessary you have to be able to envision the possibilities. Otherwise you can gather no evidence to prove or disprove those possibilties.

The commenter would have us believe that envisioning the possibilities is drawing a conclusion, but if that's the case there is no possible way to have any investigation without predrawn conclusions. This is just wrong. If it's not an illlogical response driven by emotion the other possibility is an attempt to delegitimize the investigation, at least within the commenter's mind.

In view of all the current stink about Obama which is not at all surprising, Romney looks so clean, capable, and naive. We were naive to think that a man of his integrity and kindness would win and try to do some good for this country. Yeah, the ladyparts people feared he would become an Akin or some other such fool while they voted for this other guy who could kill with his smile (or is it his drone?). What stupidity!

"presided over a moderation of the CIA's controversial drone program to take into greater account diplomatic sensitivities, a shift that sometimes put him at odds with the head of the agency's Counterterrorism Center."

Capturing and extracting information is immoderate... killing them with drones is immoderate...

I saw dozens of college students from out of state with Idaho and Michigan and other state driver's licenses doing same-day registration and voting ahead of me. Laughing and yucking it up. Who knows how many times they voted? In MN it's easy as hell. I knew immediately the elections was Obama's.

My wife is an election judge and saw all sorts of shenanigans by the Dem judges and complained and nothing came of it.

So I'm through. It's a fucking charade. I'm not stupid. I have no voice and no vote; maybe I never really did.

But I don't want to pretend we have a functioning system anymore. I have no property rights, not my house or my income. Not even my health care. All Democrat say-so.

Assange is basically a left-leaning anarchist type. The military is "bad" and imperial and an imposition upon the people and their essential freedom that is being corrupted by such institutions and traditions.

I put him somewhere on the spectrum between Noam Chomsky and Glenn Greenwald.

So AF (11:47am) will graciously allow us to ask questions, as long as we make sure not to even consider the possibility of any answer to those questions that will make Obama look bad. And he probably doesn't even realize what a shameless shill he is!

One hates to sound conspiratorial, but Petraeus' departure, the second senior officer involved in Benghazi, sets off very loud alarm bells. I detest all the Obama conspiracy theory nonsense--that vin diesel movie stuff--but something is very off here. Where's that Obama is like nixon tag?

phx wrote:Romney unequivocally gave his support for the drone program. No daylight between his and Obama's position on drones.

And Obama after saying we had to stop air rading villages unequivocably gave support for Bush's drone program. No daylight then between the neocons and then libs when it comes to most of Bush's anti terror policies.

This blog gets more pitiful by the hour as the "faithful" keep repeating their same old bullshit about how the Manchurian Candidate Obama has deceived everyone except them.... Impotent, hollow, stupid, self-deceptive, desperate posts to try to avoid the truth that the majority here don't know what they're talking about.

Obama probably has a big ego. Everyone I've met who has some fame has a big ego and can be overbearing and demanding and all that. But that's what it takes to get to be POTUS. I saw Nixon in the 70's (post-Watergate) - he'd just arrived at a small, exclusive island retreat - and he still had a commanding presence. I was not a fan - but his "aura" for lack of a better word was overwhelming. After that I stopped thinking of him as a caraciture and started recognizing that despite his failures, he did many good things for the country when he was in office. Demonizing your opponent only serves to cloud your judgment. So - get over it boys and girls....

@pogo:I saw dozens of college students from out of state with Idaho and Michigan and other state driver's licenses doing same-day registration and voting ahead of me. Laughing and yucking it up. Who knows how many times they voted? In MN it's easy as hell. I knew immediately the elections was Obama's.

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I feel your pain. This sounds like what happened in Dem primary 2008 caucuses. Same day registration, who knew? I am very distraught at how corrupt it all is. A well functioning healthy democracy needs watchdogs. We don't have any.

pm317 said..."@pogo:I saw dozens of college students from out of state ...Who knows how many times they voted?"

Right - keep it up - try to convince each other -

The truth is that our voter registration system is a mess complicated by partisan politicians. Every eligible voter should be able to easily cast a ballot without concerns of voter fraud or voter suppression. Did you see the people giving up a day to stand in line in some states? Have you heard about the protests in Arizona where mail-in ballots were never sent to certain "communities"?

This election wasn't stolen - not close. The results tracked right with the polling - assuming you were following comprehensive poll analysis rather than Althouse's myopic Rasmussen postings.

It has come to our attention that you believe in "asking questions". All actions falling under this categorization are definitionally considered investigations subject to duly authorized Regulation TK-421. Accordingly please be aware that investigations must have their conclusions pre-approved by this office. We have staff available for consultation should you need help in developing your conclusions prior to submitting your application.

So they sent an Obot to fight our comments on voter fraud. There are precincts with more than 100+ votes cast. The whole country became Cook County, IL under Obama. This will all come out eventually. But what a shame.

I merely point out how a dictator - would you rather I point out how sociable Winnie Churchill thought Joe Stalin was or what a ladies' man Fidel was supposed to be - can have an agreeable social reputation and phx calls Godwin on me.

It might have been justified if I'd pointed out Choom want Israel destroyed.

The response of the court martial's prosecutor is "that's nice" but there is no plea bargain and little Bradley will still face major charges with serious jail time.

Unless he starts squealing like the bitch he really is and gives up Assange and some other left-anarchists several nations want to see behind bars.Otherwise, Bradley seems destined to be a lipsticked punk, passed around like a sex toy by groups of real hardcase military cons at Ft Leavenworth - who view traitors on a level with child molesters.

The response of the court martial's prosecutor is "that's nice" but there is no plea bargain and little Bradley will still face major charges with serious jail time.

Unless he starts squealing like the bitch he really is and gives up Assange and some other left-anarchists several nations want to see behind bars.Otherwise, Bradley seems destined to be a lipsticked punk, passed around like a sex toy by groups of real hardcase military cons at Ft Leavenworth - who view traitors on a level with child molesters.

pm317 said... In view of all the current stink about Obama which is not at all surprising, Romney looks so clean, capable, and naive. We were naive to think that a man of his integrity and kindness would win and try to do some good for this country"

This.

He was too nice. Too professional. Too wimpy. He had to take it to Obama big time because the media would run interference for the Jug Eared Jesus. Romney played it as though he had already won. He was a wishy washy Rhino and they demonized him by lying about he was and what he planned to do. It's not the economy stupid. It's your lady parts. It was a base election and Obama got out his base. The Republican base held their nose and voted for Romney but in their heart they wanted someone else. Romney got all the independents a Republican could possibly get and he lost.

Obama was correct when he intimated that voting is the best revenge. But we can only vote at certain prescribed times. What to do between those times?

ARGUE, CONDEMN, RESIST, FIGHT

It's what our Founders intended! And it can be fun, exhilarating and ultimately successful. In fact, endless resistance is at the heart of Alinsky's "Rules". As Alinsky would not compromise, so why should the American people?

Compromise is for the politicians, not the "body politic" - the people. If Republicans in the House incorrectly compromise on the financial mess and the majority of the people disagree, the bums will get tossed. Same will be true for Mr. Obama.

The Founders were REVOLUTIONARIES!!! Have you forgotten that?

You think Hamilton would have been cowed by Alinsky? By Obama? Hamilton and the other Founders stared-down the British Frakkin Empire!! When a British person (not a citizen in the American sense) wanted to effect a change, they had to "petition" Parliament and the King. The Founders told the English shitheads "Frakk you and your required petitions - BLOW US!

Turn this on the political establishment (both parties)! Out Alinsky the bastards!

"So they sent an Obot to fight our comments on voter fraud. There are precincts with more than 100+ votes cast. The whole country became Cook County, IL under Obama. This will all come out eventually. But what a shame."

What makes you so sure it will come out? I believe we've reached a tipping point where the government, media, and a dumbed down electorate have pushed the country inside the socialist "event horizon" where there is no escape from our trajectory towards statism and tyranny.

The government and their media lapdogs will determine what our recorded history will be, and while we have the internet and talk radio (for now) we are an ever shrinking minority without the power to reverse flow of power from the individual to the state.

We had a final chance to do so in this election but they stole it, and it will only get easier to steal future elections as the corruptocrats accrete more and more power.

I think you got what I said wrong. I am proud to have supported and voted for Romney. He was a fine candidate, a serious candidate who was right for the country when it most needed somebody like him. I don't blame him for who he is or what he did or how he did it. I wanted exactly his kind to run against Obama. The contrast could not have been starker. If the fucking electorate did not see the difference and they fell for Obama's gutter tactics, they get what they want in the next two years -- more taxes, more lay-offs, more Obamacare expenses and less doctors, more tragedies overseas and here because of Obama's incompetent foreign policies. Obama supporters and unfortunately others, deserve every bit of it. If the election was rigged, then God have mercy, we don't have any watchdogs left to guard the country any more.

whether the election was rigged or Romney's ideas and plan were rejected, either scenario leaves us in the same fix. We're living in a 49/51 nation that is well over thin air on the fiscal and social cliff.

There is no other option than fighting for our principles. Being the butt of some liberal joke is less than a mosquito bite. Or a mosquito bite on the butt. I'm still in the fetal position, but I'll come out of it and the part of the original intent of the United States that I have any control over will fight, resist, and argue. We'll also prepare, because there's going to be a breakdown that will challenge our resources.

Those who are here to mock are surely going to find rich pickings, but so what?

Since you brought up Hamilton, read Madison's #10 (may be you already have). American democracy is on the way to a mob democracy. Tell someone, anyone, stop a stranger on the street and tell them 47% of the voting age population does not pay taxes. They will be appalled, I will guarantee it. But that is not how it went in the campaign when Romney told it. 47% and 4% more to go, the Democrats will have a permanent majority. That is their goal. Create a permanent dependent 51+% and get away with it until one day we become Greece. Madison would have disapproved.

The unique ideas that made America the country I fell in love to make it my home are slowly eroding right before my very eyes. I thought Election 2000 was a fluke and those bastard, evil Republicans and then waited for a course correction in 2004. In 2008, and now in 2012, I saw the Democrats become those evil Republicans. Some of us are stuck in a no man's land without a party. We don't need a party but at least the right man or woman to run this fine country. Take us back to the unique ideas of the founders.

He was a wishy washy Rhino and they demonized him by lying about he was and what he planned to do. It's not the economy stupid. It's your lady parts. It was a base election and Obama got out his base. The Republican base held their nose and voted for Romney but in their heart they wanted someone else. Romney got all the independents a Republican could possibly get and he lost.

We won't get fooled again.

No, next time you can go with a Pure, to the Right of Barry Goldwater dream candidate.

Santorum, Aikin, Mourdouche and the Queen of Tea Party Conservatives Michelle Bachmann squeaking to a reelection...Are all ready to answer the call of angry, older God-fearing white men and the 6% of the country they represent.

What's to understand? Hidden adultery is not acceptable for those who hold security clearances because they leave one open to blackmail. His partner was already such a mess that she was threatening others. There's a clear risk and it's unacceptable.

"Accused rapist and admitted anarchist Assange thinks Obama seems like a great guy...that seems about right."

Um...Pastafarian...I think you might want to walk that comment back after you're reread even just the headline. It's not even necessary to read the body of the story to see this is not at all what Assange said or means.

It'll be interesting to see the look on his face when he finds out he has standing room in the cattle car to Dachau-on-the-Brazos.

Paul said...

So they sent an Obot to fight our comments on voter fraud. There are precincts with more than 100+ votes cast. The whole country became Cook County, IL under Obama. This will all come out eventually. But what a shame.

What makes you so sure it will come out?

Even in the most totalitarian countries (Godwin alert), word gets out.

We'll find out about those 8 million white voters one day.

After all, how many years did it take to find out about Jack Kennedy and the graveyard vote in Chicago?

wyo sis said...

whether the election was rigged or Romney's ideas and plan were rejected, either scenario leaves us in the same fix. We're living in a 49/51 nation that is well over thin air on the fiscal and social cliff.

There is no other option than fighting for our principles. Being the butt of some liberal joke is less than a mosquito bite. Or a mosquito bite on the butt. I'm still in the fetal position, but I'll come out of it and the part of the original intent of the United States that I have any control over will fight, resist, and argue. We'll also prepare, because there's going to be a breakdown that will challenge our resources.

"Unless (Manning) starts squealing like the bitch he really is and gives up Assange and some other left-anarchists several nations want to see behind bars.Otherwise, Bradley seems destined to be a lipsticked punk, passed around like a sex toy by groups of real hardcase military cons at Ft Leavenworth - who view traitors on a level with child molesters."

Charming, Cedarford. I can't help but point out the spittle dripping from your mouth as you reveal your wet drea--your, uh, "prognostication" for what awaits Bradley Manning.

... next time you can go with a Pure, to the Right of Barry Goldwater dream candidate.

Santorum, Aikin, Mourdouche and the Queen of Tea Party Conservatives Michelle Bachmann squeaking to a reelection...Are all ready to answer the call of angry, older God-fearing white men and the 6% of the country they represent.

How can you lose?????

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Wrong reading.

As someone said somewhere today (was it here at Althouse?), next time Republicans will take the Lee Atwater rather than the Karl Rove approach in the campaign.

I heard they are all being held in FEMA camps guarded by gay illegal aliens in Nevada, New Mexico and Colorado. Which also helps explain why Obama won those states (the guards had to vote somewhere). Boy, the liberals will have red faces when the truth comes out!

I heard they are all being held in FEMA camps guarded by gay illegal aliens in Nevada, New Mexico and Colorado. Which also helps explain why Obama won those states (the guards had to vote somewhere). Boy, the liberals will have red faces when the truth comes out!

Ah, the Alinsky dance. The Lefties would always laugh at how it was so ridiculous when people said how thoroughly the KGB had infiltrated the country.

Then The Venona Diaries came out.

Tell us all how Sam Bacile is in on a righteous charge, too.

PS I see some phony folksy is an all-weekend troll now.

"Work" at "the office" must be so light he doesn't need any rest on the weekends?

I didn't know Cedarford had such a high opinion of traitors! He certainly has tried to excuse and whitewash ass-raping child molesters every chance he gets from Polanski to Sandusky. At least he is, uh, preference-neutral. It's a cinch he's either a perp or a victim himself.

Cedarford, you can save that shit. We did it your way. We put in Romney the big softie and he got his clock cleaned. Your way does not work. Q.E.D. Now is the time to look back to the last guy who won 2 elections, that would be George W Bush, and do whatever it is that he did that worked.

Rosen is the sort the Europeans mentally imaged crawling out of sewers. Vermin.My read on Sandusky was that he was guilty. But that people should hold off demonizing and wanting an 80-year old man, Paterno, until more evidence came in. Which it did.The biggest lesson I thought came from the case was that the Cult of the Famous Coach had grown so strong at many universities that an incident like this that would have gotten swift attention in any other Department was considered hands off because the Coach was God.

My read on Polanski is that he boffed a consenting and sexually active (but unlike in Europe below age of consent) 15 year old. He served time in jail, he settled with the lady 3 decades ago and when LA is declining to prosecute murderers for lack of resources - some publicity hounds tried resurrecting a case they had abandoned for 35 years. The lady did not want to testify, authorities threatened to arrest her for not playing ball with their PR overreach...and other witnesses were long dead.

It was a stupid waste of legal resources, IMO...And unlike what sewer rat Rosen states, not an endorsement of banging jailbait.

Cookie - Don't you think it rather unseemly to let your excitement show? (About what Manning faces in 2-3 decades in a military prison).

No, Cookie, you are as bad about your 1st Amendment Hero as the Right is about their freedom-loving hearthrob Youssef/Bacile/Nakoula. (and 7 other IDs).

Just saying how it is. The Ft. Leavenworth con population is as hardcore as San Quentin. With so many cons licking their lips on the prospects of the long stay of "Bradweena", as he likes to be called, it does behoove Manning and his attorneys to have him testify against all the lefties and anarchists and pomo Commies behind WikiLeaks.

Quite a difference between 2-5 years in protective custody and 30 years in gen pop, passed on for the Brothers to use when the whites tired of using him, or maybe he can land a "husband" every few years.

In Cedarford's phony "profile" he claims to be married and have two daughters. But in a post on another blog he once said he had a *son* to make some debating point. As for being married, it is extremely unlikely he has ever had sex with a woman without having to pay for it. Hence his vociferous defense of the Secret Service agents caught with hookers.

Cedarford, who is licking his chops, relishing the idea of Bradley Manning being passed around in prison as the sexual slave to be freely and repeatedly raped by other inmates, gets it wrong again:

"My read on Polanski is that he boffed a consenting and sexually active (but unlike in Europe below age of consent) 15 year old. He served time in jail, he settled with the lady 3 decades ago...."

No. Polanski pled guilty to unlawful sexual intercourse with a minor, (she was 13), expecting he would get probation. When it seemed he would be sentenced to prison, Polanski fled the United States and has stayed out of the country for decades to avoid being arrested and imprisoned.

In 2009 he was arrested by the Swiss authorities as he tried to attend a film festival in Switzerland where he was to be honored. He was detained for a time while the Swiss government considered whether to honor a request for his extradition by the United States, but they eventually released him, and so he continues to stay free of American authorities.

"Anybody who thinks that "Obama seems to be a nice man" really wasn't paying attention. Rarely have we seen such arrogant pettiness in such a high office."

Oy vey! Read Assange's statement again. He's not saying Obama is a nice man. The operative word in his remark is "seems".

Are you totally unfamiliar with the well-worn cliche Assange uses to make his point, ("wolf in sheep's clothing")?

To Obama's supporters, he does seem like a "nice" man, (just as, to his supporters, Bush seemed like a nice man, rather than the Neidermeyer-like asshole he always seemed to be to me)...or, at least, a man concerned with working for the best interests of the people, rather than in furthering the agenda of the military/financial complex.